Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen. - Epictetus
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2020: The Tour During Covid-19, Better Late Than Never is available in both Kindle eBook and Audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- December 15: Namur Cyclocross-Citadelcross
Latest completed racing:
- November 17: Flandriencross
- November 3: European Cyclocross Championships
- November 1: X20 Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
- October 27: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaamse Druivencross
- October 15 - 20: Tour of Guangxi
- October 20: Japan Cup Road Race
- October 20: Veneto Classic
- October 16: Giro del Veneto
- October 13: Chrono des Nations
Here’s the team’s update:
Israel – Premier Tech welcomes three new additions to its performance department from 2025; Sports Directors Alexander Cataford and Francesco Frassi, and Performance Optimization Coordinator Marc Quod, in addition to the promotion of Steve Bauer to the role of Sporting Manager.
Bauer will oversee the team’s Sports Directors and race calendar, while the three new team members add experience and depth across the board says IPT General Manager Kjell Carlström.
“We are pleased to announce our new appointments ahead of the 2025 season,” he says. “Of course, Alex Cataford is no stranger to IPT having raced for us for four years and now we are looking forward to seeing him make his Sports Director debut. On the other hand, Francesco Frassi joins us with ten years of experience as a DS for various Italian teams. Following the departure of Sep Vanmarcke, we wanted to prioritize the recruitment of young Sports Directors who can learn from their colleagues, and we think Alex and Francesco will be a great fit.
Alexander Cataford
“After three years with IPT, Steve Bauer was the natural choice to step up to the Sporting Manager role having previously held the position at CCC Team. Steve’s experience and skills will be important in shaping our Sporting and Performance departments, which continue to grow as we work our way back to the WorldTour. This growth includes the appointment of sports scientist Marc Quod in the newly created role of Performance Optimization Coordinator. Marc has spent his career working at the forefront of cycling performance and will take on an important role in optimizing our equipment to achieve performance gains.”
Content continues below the ads
Cataford is excited to start the next chapter in his career as a Sports Director, in the familiar environment at IPT.
“I am happy to come back to IPT next season,” Cataford explains. “The team has been on a constant upward trajectory, and when I was presented with the opportunity to join as a DS I did not hesitate for a second. Personally, I am looking forward to the new role and challenges that come with it. Instead of being on the bike with the guys, this time around I will be supporting them from the team car.”
Frassi joins IPT from Team Corretec – Vini Fantini, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge, particularly when it comes to the Italian races.
“I am very proud to join IPT’s technical staff,” adds Frassi. “Being able to work in a high-level team is a dream that I have always carried inside me. I have always admired the way IPT works from the outside and I feel lucky to have the chance to work closely with the experienced Sports Directors and staff and continue my growth as a DS.
“I would like to thank Kjell Carlstrom and Steve Bauer for their trust and a special thanks to my former teams – Monte Pisano team, Amore e Vita, Neri Sottoli and Team Corratec – where I was able to learn everything that has allowed me to reach this position. I am ready to give the best of myself every day and I can’t wait to get into the IPT team car.”
Content continues below the ads
The team sent me this announcement:
GreenEDGE Cycling is pleased to welcome Briton Steve Cummings as a sport director for Team Jayco AlUla men’s WorldTeam in 2025.
After a remarkable professional racing career that spanned over 15 years and boasts an impressive palmarés ranging from an Olympic silver medal to Tour de France and Vuelta a España stage wins, the squad is delighted to add Cummings’ abundance of knowledge and first-hand experience to the performance group.
Following his retirement from professional racing in 2019, the 43-year-old has been in the team car for four years, guiding riders to the highest-level results and is looking forward to a new chapter in his career with the Australian outfit.
.jpg)
Steve Cummings winning stage 7 of the 2015 Criterium du Dauphiné. Sirotti photo
“I’m really excited to be joining Team Jayco AlUla. This team has a strong reputation for its professionalism, and commitment to success, which aligns with my own values and experiences in sport,” Cummings said. “I’m looking forward to contributing to its ongoing success, helping all my teammates reach their full potential.
“For me, this is more than just joining a team – it’s an opportunity to be part of a culture that celebrates growth, resilience, and meaningful results. Naturally through having a long career within cycling, on and off the bike, I already know a lot of team members and I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get started with them.”
With a roster fortified with new and exciting talent for 2025, plus a change to the squad’s overall general classification leader following the welcome addition of Australian Ben O’Connor, Team Jayco AlUla is preparing for a standout season.
General Manager Brent Copeland is confident that Cummings’ presence in the team car will be a huge asset in the new year. “We are delighted to be welcoming Steve onto the team in 2025. His personality and professionalism is something that we believe will fit very well within our culture,” Copeland explained.
“Steve has such a wide skill set and is a very experienced sport director having of course experienced first-hand what it means to be a rider himself, having won at the highest level during his time as a pro rider. I was truly impressed by Steve’s attention to detail and visionary approach during our first conversation about the team. I immediately felt that he would bring a dynamic energy that we would all benefit from.”
Content continues below the ads
Here’s the team’s update:
Team Polti Kometa finalizes its lineup for the upcoming season with another experienced rider from VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizanè: following Samuele Zoccarato, here comes Alessandro Tonelli. The 32-year-old from Bornato (Brescia province) has competed in 5 Giro d’Italia, 8 Milan-San Remo, and 6 Il Lombardia during his career. He also boasts two stage wins: at the Cro Race in 2018 and in the Volta Valenciana earlier this year. Known for his attacking style, Tonelli has signed a contract with the Fundación Contador’s ProTeam for 2025.
2016 GP Costa degli Etruschi: Alessandro Tonelli leads a small escape.
Tonelli: “First of all, I want to thank Polti Kometa for giving me the opportunity to keep racing. After a decade with the same team, starting my eleventh year in a new environment will almost feel like turning pro all over again. I intend to bring all my cycling and personal experience to this squad, aiming to improve further as I’ve always done.”
Sports Director Stefano Zanatta: “Alessandro is another excellent addition that perfectly fits our racing philosophy, he’s experienced and breakaways are his hallmark. I also know him personally, he’s a true professional and I’m delighted he’s joining us. He’ll be an asset in every respect, including supporting Piganzoli in the mountains.”
With Tonelli’s signing, the 20-men roster for 2025 is now complete. New signings Tonelli and Zoccarato join four neo-professionals: two coming from the Continental category (Ludovico Crescioli and Aidan Buttigieg) and two promoted from the U23 ranks (Pablo García and Gabriele Raccagni). The 14 riders confirmed from 2024 are Davide Piganzoli, Mirco Maestri, Giovanni Lonardi, Andrea Pietrobon, Davide De Cassan, brothers Davide and Mattia Bais, Diego Sevilla, Fernando Tercero, Manuel Peñalver, Fran Muñoz, Javier Serrano, Alex Martín and Germán Gómez.
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary